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2 years ago ::
Dec 01, 2010 - 6:26AM
#1
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Date Joined:
Nov 13, 2004
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I'd ask a question to the people is currently betatesting the VTT.
In your opinion, why VTT would be (or not, of course) better than the rptools, that's a shareware?
Could you import images from pictures to create maps? Could you customize macros? Is it as flexible as rptools (from DM point of view)?
I'd really know something more, cause i'm using succesfully rptools and before migrating to vtt i'd understand if it's worth of it.
Thak u very much for your feedback.
Bye
Nemblin
---
Happy (for now) DDI subscriber
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2 years ago ::
Dec 01, 2010 - 6:59AM
#2
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Date Joined:
Jul 15, 2010
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well i just checked out RPtools because of this post and i am not really able to make heads or tails of it since especially the maptool (im compleatly in the dark on that one)
im not a beta tester myself but i can say with about 75% confidance that the VTT is more user friendly (based on the information from these boards and people i know who are beta testing)
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2 years ago ::
Dec 01, 2010 - 7:06AM
#3
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Based on beta test reports over in the RPTools forum, your questions in order:
1) No importing of pictures - only tile-based maps using the provided library
2) No - basic dice rolling is available, but no scripting language
3) Not as far as I can tell, although that depends on what you mean by the question.
However, I'm not a beta tester, so I don't know firsthand. I have heard that it is vastly easier to get a game hosted using the Wizards VT because you don't have to mess with your network, port forwarding, or anything like that.
As for user-friendliness, that also seems to be a point in the Wizards VT's favor - it does one thing only, so it can focus on that and not offer the options other VTTs offer. MapTool does have some distance to travel in getting new users going, though. Once you watch the video tutorials, it's pretty trivial, but there's a learning curve. You're already using MapTool successfully, so for you that seems to be irrelevant. For a new user, it would not be.
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2 years ago ::
Dec 01, 2010 - 7:09AM
#4
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Date Joined:
Jun 13, 2008
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From what I've seen, (I'm not in beta, but I've talked to people who are, and kept up on forums) the VTT is as undeadpool said is more user friendly. I love MapTools, but I'm a programmer, and enjoy having the access to customize a lot for myself.
At this time they don't allow you to import your own artwork (much like the character builder), but we can hope that it will come, or they will get a much larger library of artwork to such an extent that you can live without it.
If you're using MapTools, bare bone, with little or any additions (campaign settings, macros, etc), than you'll find the VTT to be a great step up. If you've put the effort in, or found people's Mods that have, than its going to take a while for the VTT to catch up.
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2 years ago ::
Dec 01, 2010 - 8:02AM
#5
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Date Joined:
Aug 21, 2007
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From what I've seen, (I'm not in beta, but I've talked to people who are, and kept up on forums) the VTT is as undeadpool said is more user friendly. I love MapTools, but I'm a programmer, and enjoy having the access to customize a lot for myself.
At this time they don't allow you to import your own artwork (much like the character builder), but we can hope that it will come, or they will get a much larger library of artwork to such an extent that you can live without it.
If you're using MapTools, bare bone, with little or any additions (campaign settings, macros, etc), than you'll find the VTT to be a great step up. If you've put the effort in, or found people's Mods that have, than its going to take a while for the VTT to catch up.
I have been using Maptool for years and my particular setup has everything automated.
All player tokens have each power built into them and when clicked they are "used" (in the case of encounter and dailys) and the to hit and damage totals are auto calculated. Hit point/temp hit point addition/subtraction is completed via macro button. Basically, everything that can be automated is automated.
It took a while to learn how to script macros to this point, but once you get the hang of it, it makes playing over the internet extremely easy.
Check out my blog for a quick blurb about maptool.
ncdnd.blogspot.com/
DDI Subscriber from Nov. 2008 to Nov. 2010
Yes, I was an annual subscriber before the original CB ever even came out. That's how excited I was. Note past tense.
Check out my little DnD blog - http://ncdnd.blogspot.com/
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2 years ago ::
Dec 01, 2010 - 9:17AM
#6
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Date Joined:
Jun 28, 2001
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If you're using MapTools, bare bone, with little or any additions (campaign settings, macros, etc), than you'll find the VTT to be a great step up. If you've put the effort in, or found people's Mods that have, than its going to take a while for the VTT to catch up.
This is the case.
I'm in the VT beta and an experienced MT user (wrote my own Framework) and because of the fact that I've spent hours and hours making a complex framework for MT that works exactly as the people in our game like, it's streets ahead of the VT.
However if you were starting totally from scratch I'd say the VT is easier to use. It also knows a bit about 4E (although not much) which is more than a vanila MT install knows.
VT is way behind where MT is (for my group) because we've spent so much time working on MT. However I think the potential for VT is massive. The key thing here is the moment you can import your PCs and Monsters directly from the Character Builder and Compendium, VT takes a step to a place the other VTTs can't go. The VT has the potential to be able to update your online characters on the fly whilst you are playing - with new equipment and the like. This is where I hope the VT goes and what will take it away from the other software out there.
Wizards can do this and they really need to. I also believe they will do this. When is another matter.
For now, I'll be keeping using MT - probably for a long time I suspect too but I fully expect to switch to the VT sometime in the future when it gets better.
Blakey
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2 years ago ::
Dec 01, 2010 - 9:37AM
#7
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Date Joined:
Jan 25, 2009
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I just discovered Maptool a couple of months ago (and just got into the beta a couple of days ago), so I can try for the newcomer perspective:
Maptool is much more powerful than the DDI VT (at least as it stands at this point). Maptool can do more and gives you much more power to customize your experience. However, Maptool also has a very steep learning curve. Having no idea how either program worked, the VT would be easier to use. If WotC gets the character/monster import added sometime and includes integrated rules support it will truly be a great tool. Until then, it will be a nice tool but might not be the best tool for you.
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2 years ago ::
Dec 01, 2010 - 10:05AM
#8
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Date Joined:
Oct 30, 2008
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I've said this in another thread just now but the community here is what's going to make this thing. Maptool has the ability to host public games but the tools are kind of confusing, there's no real D&D community "pool" there to draw games from and it's not the official tool. It's also a pain to set up since the DM has to host the game on his personal pc.
I'm not in the beta but it appears to me that the game is hosted on WotC's server which is a huge advantage IMO.
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2 years ago ::
Dec 01, 2010 - 10:27AM
#9
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Date Joined:
Aug 24, 2005
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Without a doubt, MapTools is currently a superior tool for the advanced internet gamer. It has more to offer in almost every area you asked about.
The one place the WotC Table shines is in simplicity and ease of use. For people new to table-tops, its easy to just jump in and play.
Compare MS Paint to Photoshop. Photoshop is far superior. But if all you want to do is draw a scribble, MS Paint is the way to go.
If all you want to do is Play D&D, the WotC table will probably be the tool of choice within a year.
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2 years ago ::
Dec 01, 2010 - 4:05PM
#10
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Without a doubt, MapTools is currently a superior tool for the advanced internet gamer. It has more to offer in almost every area you asked about.
The one place the WotC Table shines is in simplicity and ease of use. For people new to table-tops, its easy to just jump in and play.
Compare MS Paint to Photoshop. Photoshop is far superior. But if all you want to do is draw a scribble, MS Paint is the way to go.
If all you want to do is Play D&D, the WotC table will probably be the tool of choice within a year.
So, the WoTC VT is for scribblers? Not a good analogy, really.
Seriously, why can't it be both? In fact, it should be both. As a seasoned gamer, what I need are tools that make my game run faster and smoother and easier. Tools they have been saying were coming, but looks like won't really come, outside of those needed to run this simpler VT.
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